Komarov ready to rumble for Leafs

Maple Leafs’ all-star winger Leo Komarov was champing at the bit during yesterday’s practice at the MasterCard Centre as he prepared for his return to the lineup tonight in Montreal following a three-game suspension. (JACK BOLAND, Toronto Sun)

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Leo Komarov might have been joking, but since he keeps a straight face when he speaks to reporters, it’s hard to say.

“I don’t know if they missed me or not,” Komarov said after practice at the MasterCard Centre on Friday, “but I am happy to be back.”

When the Maple Leafs visit the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Saturday night, Komarov will return to the Toronto lineup after serving a three-game suspension for elbowing New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh in the head during a game on Feb. 18.

“He is a workhorse, he plays with and without the puck, he is on power-play, he is on the penalty kill, he drives us energy-wise and on the forecheck in heavy play down low. He is an important piece.”

There were lots of moving parts involving the Leafs on Friday, though none involved another trade announcement from the office of general manager Lou Lamoriello.

Winger P.A. Parenteau caused a stir on social media when he departed practice not long after it started. A Leafs official was quick to tell media the 32-year-old Parenteau had a bit of soreness and that there was “nothing going on,” indicating no trade was imminent.

Parenteau said he will play in Montreal and with the NHL trade deadline on Monday at 3 p.m., expects it will be his last game in a Leafs uniform. Parenteau, headed for unrestricted free agency, reiterated he would like to return to the Leafs if the club is of the same mind.

Defenceman Matt Hunwick, who has missed the past four games with a lower-body injury, appears set to play. With Viktor Loov loaned to the Toronto Marlies and the placement of Jared Cowen (who was activated from injured reserve) on waivers, that left the Leafs with six defencemen to face the Canadiens, though one could be recalled early Saturday.

“As long as the medical staff feels comfortable, I am ready to go,” said Hunwick, who has been a positive revelation for the Leafs.

“You try to earn a role and keep it and I think I have done an okay job so far this year. You always strive for more, be better and play more consistent, all those things that you wanted to do at 22, you are still trying to do at 30.”

Forward Rich Clune also was sent to the Marlies, putting the Leafs at 12 forwards. Again, it could be that Clune or another forward is recalled early Saturday.

Winger Milan Michalek skated on a line with centre Mark Arcobello and winger Josh Leivo, more or less filling in for Parenteau. Michalek remains on injured reserve as he recovers from a broken finger (suffered on Jan. 22 while playing for Ottawa) and is looking to make his Leafs debut in one of the club’s four games next week.

“I feel pretty good,” Michalek said after his first full practice with the Leafs. “It still hurts a bit when shooting, but it’s going to be good soon.”

Jonathan Bernier, who planned to have dinner with his parents on Friday night upon arriving in Montreal, will start in goal for the Leafs.

The Leafs are bound to look plenty different in their following game, which comes on Monday night at the Air Canada Centre versus the Tampa Bay Lightning, hours after the deadline has passed.

With trade speculation swirling, Babcock said there had been no discussion about keeping any players out of the lineup on Saturday night. After Parenteau, other players headed for unrestricted free agency, including Michael Grabner, Brad Boyes and perhaps James Reimer, could be gone.

What do we know as fact as the Leafs try to win two in a row for the first time since the first week of February?

Komarov will be awfully familiar.

“What happened was just bad luck,” Komarov said. “When you play hard, sometimes hits (with unintended consequences) will happen. I’m going to try to play the same way.”

PARENTEAU WOWED BY LEAFS' FUTURE

P.A. Parenteau has enjoyed his time as a Maple Leaf, but there’s another reason why he wouldn’t mind signing with Toronto as a free agent in the summer if he is traded in the next few days.

“The future looks bright for the Leafs,” Parenteau said after practice on Friday.

“So many young guys with the (Toronto) Marlies, they are so dominant, it’s pretty crazy. I don’t recall seeing that good a team in the AHL. The future is going to be bright, sooner than people expect.”

How soon would that be, P.A.?

“I know they don’t want to put expectations on themselves,” Parenteau said. “If they stay healthy and if they get a couple more pieces, I can see them fighting for a playoff spot as early as next year.”

That’s debatable. There’s no doubt of the potential of players such as William Nylander, Nikita Soshnikov, Rinat Valiev, Connor Brown and 2015 first-rounder Mitch Marner.

The 2016-17 likely will be another long one for the Leafs. If the youngsters find themselves, Parenteau might be right, only a season or two later.

Komarov ready to rumble for Leafs

Leo Komarov might have been joking, but since he keeps a straight face when he speaks to reporters, it’s hard to say.

“I don’t know if they missed me or not,” Komarov said after practice at the MasterCard Centre on Friday, “but I am happy to be back.”

When the Maple Leafs visit the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Saturday night, Komarov will return to the Toronto lineup after serving a three-game suspension for elbowing New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh in the head during a game on Feb. 18.